double-team

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to join with one other person in dealing with a task, person, or situation

   The two travelers decided to double-team the scheme and work together.

2. 2
   verb

   sports: to assign two defenders to guard or pressure one opposing player

   The defense began to double-team the striker whenever she approached the goal.

Formed from double and team. Twain's use refers generally to two people joining forces; the now-prominent sports sense, in which two defenders cover one opponent, developed from the same two-person idea.

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